in her arms. She had
hitched her way back to the fireplace again, and was very busy with
buttons and strings, when Helma, appearing in the doorway, announced a
visitor.

"Who?" said Anne, puzzled. "Did the bell ring? I didn't hear it. What
is it?"

"Jantl'man," said Helma.

"A gentleman?" Anne, very much at a loss, got up, and carrying Jinny,
and followed by the barefoot Diego, went to the door. She had a
reassuring and instant impression that it was a very fine--even a
magnificent--old man, who was standing in the twilight of the little
hall. Anne had never seen him before, but there was no question in her
heart as to his reception, even at this first glance.

"How do you do?" she said, a little fluttered, but cordial, too. "Will
you come in here by the fire? The sitting-room is so cold."

"Thank you," said her caller, easily, with a little inclination of his
head that seemed to acknowledge her hospitality. He put his hat, a
shining, silk hat, upon the hall table, and followed her into the
dining-room. Anne found, when she turned to give him the big chair,
that he had pulled off his big gloves, too, and that Diego had put a
confident, small hand into his.

He sat down comfortably, a big, square-built man, with rosy color, hair
that was already silvered, and a fast-silvering mustache, and keen,
kind eyes as blue as Virginia's. In the expression of these eyes, and
in the lines about his fine mouth, was that suggestion of simple
friendliness and sympathy that no man, woman, or child can long resist.
Anne found herself already deciding that she LIKED this man. She went
on with Jinny's small toilet, even while she wondered about her caller,
and while she decided that Jim should have an overcoat of exactly this
big, generous cut, and of exactly this delightful, warm-looking rough
cloth, some day.

"Perhaps this is a bad hour to disturb these little people?" said the
caller, smiling, but with something in his manner and in his rather
deliberate and well-chosen speech, of the dignity and courtesy of an
older generation.

"Oh, no, indeed!" Anne assured him. "I'm going right on with them, you
see!"

Jinny, deliciously drowsy, gave the stranger a slow yet approving
smile, from the safety of Anne's arms. Diego went to lay a small hand
upon the gentleman's knee.

"This is my shoe," said Diego, frankly exhibiting a worn specimen, "and
Baby has shoes, too, blue ones. And Baby cried in the night when the
mirror fell do